Ex-NFL quarterback breaks down on Live TV after his autistic son makes a 'confession' no one saw coming

On April 2, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky broke down on live TV watching Madden, his autistic son shining in a special program coinciding with World Autism Awareness Day. After covering the set with his drawings, the 14-year-old surprised everyone, especially his dad, by confessing his love for him and his family, turning Orlovsky into an emotional, proud parent. You can watch the heartfelt segment on ESPN (@espn) shared on April 3. 

Madden, an avid football fan, had a blast drawing a series of sports-themed illustrations. In fact, the special program took an interesting turn when the teenager broke into an impromptu performance on the Philadelphia Eagles' team song. Looking at his autistic son smiling and enjoying himself, Orlovsky turned emotional, leading to a rare display of vulnerability on live TV. "Are you crying?" Madden asked, to which Orlovsky immediately replied, "Yeah, because I love you; good job." Overwhelmed by the opportunity, Madden listed a few things he loves, including his family. "Mom, I love you. Hunter, you're my favorite twin. Noah, I do like you, and Lennon, you're a good sister," he confessed. Orlovsky, who didn't anticipate the sweet confession, broke down witnessing the very touching moment. Suppressing his tears, he hugged Madden, making the moment even more heartwarming. 

Knowing that his son is on the spectrum, Orlovsky told TODAY he never expected such a heartfelt confession from Madden. However, he credited Tiffany, his loving wife, highlighting her efforts to bring out the best in their autistic son. "There’s just a lot of emotion to watch his journey. I would have never imagined him being capable of doing that," Orlovsky added. For those unaware, Madden is one of the 14-year-old triplets and four kids that the ESPN analyst shares with his wife. Apart from three sons, Orlovsky also shares a 10-year-old daughter named Lennon.

Data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) found that 73.3% of kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reported difficulty with at least one functional domain, such as communication, accepting change, and social interaction (for instance, making friends). Another study (by V Rose, D Trembath, D Keen, and J Paynter) on 246 kids with ASD, found that 26.3% of participants used "fewer than five spontaneous and functional words" on their own without prompting. Data revealed in both studies further explain why Orlovsky was shocked by his autistic son's unexpected confession.

Meanwhile, netizens were left teary-eyed, witnessing a beautiful moment between Orlovsky and his son. For example, @shrope commented, "ESPN and crew, you really won the moment today in recognizing what was happening on World Autism Day. Madden was allowed an exceptional opportunity to show the world what those with autism and their families can achieve with time, love, patience, and community. Wow! We were allowed a glimpse into the lives of an exceptional family. What a beautiful soul. Well done, ESPN. That was a rare vulnerability." Similarly, @milolovesmidge shared, "This made my entire morning and weekend. Thanks for allowing him to speak freely at his own pace without rushing him through or interrupting him."

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